Sirna against cbl-b and optionally il-2 and il-12 for use in the treatment of cancer

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method for the immune activation of NK cells by the reduction or inhibition of the Cbl-b function in said cells. This stimulates the congenital immune system and thus permits the therapy of appropriate diseases.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Application Ser. No.13/977,453, which is a national phase application under 35 U.S.C. §371of International Application No. PCT/EP2011/074099 filed 27 Dec. 2011,which claims priority to European Application No. 10197146.3 filed 28Dec. 2010. The entire contents of each of the above-referenceddisclosures is specifically incorporated herein by reference withoutdisclaimer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to therapeutic methods for activating theinnate immune system, in particular NK cells.

2. Description of Related Art

NK cells (natural killer cells) pertain to the group of lymphocytes (asubtype of white blood cells or leukocytes). They are capable ofrecognizing and killing abnormal cells, such as tumor cells andvirus-infected cells. NK cells do not have antigen-specific receptorsand are a part of the innate immune system. NK cells recognize, i. a.,the MHC I complex, which is found on virtually all healthy cells of thebody. If a cell is infected by viruses or transforms into a tumor cell,the MHC I complex located on the cell surface may be lost. Like otherlymphocytes, NK cells develop from lymphoid progenitor cells in the bonemarrow and at a later stage circulate in the bloodstream.

Loeser et al. (JEM (2007) doi:10.1084/iem.20061699) have shown thatCbl-b is a negative regulator that is largely responsible for theso-called immunoreactivity of T cells. Cbl-b suppresses the activationof T cells and is capable of preventing autoimmune reactions. In theabsence of Cbl-b, substances that are administered, but are hardlyimmunogenic, may lead to the induction of a strong immune response.Furthermore, Cbl-b-deficient mice (homozygous gene knockout) are viableand their immune system is capable of efficiently recognizingautologously induced tumors and establishing a lytic immune responsethereto which is mainly based on CD8⁺T cells. However, the completedeactivation of the enzyme, as described in this document, also leads toan increase in autoimmunity after the immunization with superantigens.

Chiang et al. (Journal of Clinical Investigation 117 (4) (2007):1033-1034) state that Cbl-b⁻/⁻CD8⁺T cells can be used to enhance theanti-tumor reactivity in E.G7 mice.

Kojo et al. (PNAS 2009, 106 (42): 17847-17851) describe a mechanism thatis influenced by Cbl-b in an artificially induced anergy of NKT cells.

WO 2008/033403 A describes the increase in reactivity of CD8⁺T cells byreducing the activity of Cbl-b. Inhibitory RNA sequences, in particularthose from siRNA, directed against Cbl-b are disclosed.

WO 2009/073905 A2 describes an ex vivo treatment of cells of the immunesystem by means of Cbl-b inhibitors.

WO 2010/119061 A1 relates to methods for the intracellular determinationof the expression of Cbl-b.

Lametschwandtner et al. (Journal of Immunotherapy 31 (9) (2008): 943)describe immunotherapies which are based on the suppression of Cbl-b inT cells.

Wigginton et al. (Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy 2002, 2 (5):513-524) describe the infiltration of tumor tissue by CD8⁺T cells uponthe administration of IL-12 and IL-2.

Weiss et al. (Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy, 2007, 7 (11):1705-1721) describe various combinations of IL-12 and other cytokines asanticancer agents.

Lametschwandtner et al. (J. of Immunotherapy 2010, 33 (8): 899) describeimmune-enhancing effects of IL-7.

Stromnes et al. (J. of Clinical Investigation 2010, 120 (10): 3722-3734)show that the administration of ex vivo expanded Cbl-b⁻/⁻CD8⁺T cells inan adoptive immunotherapy in mice induces an anti-tumor response invivo.

Thus it was already known that T-cells, i. e. cells of the adaptiveimmune system, may be activated by means of Cbl-b inhibition in order topromote an immune response. Such a promotion of the immune response isof therapeutic interest, in particular with respect to severe chronicdiseases in which the insufficient activity of the immune system iscausal for the progression of the disease. Such disorders are, forexample, chronic infections or tumor diseases. However, in particulareffective immune responses in these diseases require an efficientinteraction of the adaptive and the innate immune system. However, nosufficient treatment approaches are clinically available yet, inparticular with respect to the activation of NK cells.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to find newmethods which are capable of providing a significantly improvedefficiency of the immune response by activating the innate immunesystem, with particular reference to NK cells.

According to the present invention, this object has been achieved by theinhibition of Cbl-b in NK cells.

In a first aspect, the present invention relates a method for the immuneactivation of NK cells, comprising the step of reducing or inhibitingthe function of Cbl-b in NK cells. This inhibition may be achieved bythe administration of a Cbl-b inhibitor. Such an inhibitor may bedirectly administered to a patient in vivo.

In an equivalent related aspect, the present invention relates to aCbl-b inhibitor for use in a method for the therapeutic treatment of apatient, comprising the introduction of the Cbl-b inhibitor into NKcells in the patient. By this treatment, the NK cells can be activated.

The terms “administration of a Cbl-b inhibitor” or “Cbl-b inhibition”are used interchangeably herein, in particular with respect to thedescription of specific embodiments.

The inhibition of Cbl-b according to the present invention can be usedfor immunotherapies in a patient, in particular for the activation ofthe immune system or the innate immune system, specifically mediated byNK cells. In particular, the method according to the present inventionmay be employed in the patient for the treatment of cancer, a viralinfection, a bacterial infection, in particular a chronic infection, inparticular a chronic infection with persistent intracellular bacteria,or a parasitic infection, in particular a mycosis. The therapy may be animmunotherapy of a chronic disease, including chronic infections. Theinfection may involve one or more organs, such as the liver. Preferably,the infection is a viral infection. One example is chronic hepatitis, e.g. triggered by a viral infection. The treatment of hepatitis B orhepatitis C is particularly preferred. The NK cell activation by theinhibition of Cbl-b according to the present invention is in particulareffective in such diseases. The patient preferably is a mammal, inparticular a human.

In particular in the case of cancer, the activation of NK cellsaccording to the present invention may be combined with conventionaltherapies. Many tumor therapies, such as radiation therapy, chemotherapyor the surgical removal of tumors have been established for years andare constantly being refined and improved. New therapies compriseimmunotherapies and therapies that are directed against specific markersof tumor cells, in particular with the use of monoclonal antibodies.Particularly the effect of the latter is largely dependent on theactivity of NK cells that recognize the tumor cell-bound antibodies viageneral antibody determinants and consequently kill the tumor cell. Theactivation of the innate immune system via the effect of NK cells thusprovides a further strategy that is able to complement and complete thealready existing approaches in order to promote immune reactions on abroad scale, in particular for combating cancer cells. In particular,therapies that have a direct cytotoxic effect on tumor cells, such aschemotherapy or radiation therapy, are able to induce the expression ofmolecules of the MHC class and other immune-activating receptors, forexample those of NKG2D ligands. These cellular changes are recognized bythe cells of the innate immune system, in particular by NK cells, andlead to the activation thereof, by means of which it is possible toachieve a much stronger therapeutic effect owing to the synergy with theNK cell activation according to the present invention.

Accordingly, the cancer disease to be treated according to the presentinvention is preferably selected from cancer diseases of thereproductive organs, in particular ovarian cancer, testicular cancer,prostate cancer or breast cancer; cancer diseases of the digestivetract, in particular stomach cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer,pancreatic cancer, esophageal cancer and liver cancer; kidney cancer,skin cancer, in particular melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamouscell carcinoma; neuroblastoma and glioblastoma, lung cancer, thyroidcancer, sarcoma, head and neck cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, lymphomaand leukemia (wherein the terms “cancer”, “tumor”, “carcinoma” etc. arealways used interchangeably herein and refer to malignant diseases).

The Cbl-b gene and its gene products have been extensively described inthe art (UniGene Id. Hs. 3144 and Hs. 381921). Cbl-b sequences are,e.g., publicly available in the GenBank database under the Acc. Nos.NM_(—)008279 and NP_(—)009112. Anti-Cbl-b antibodies, siRNAs andantisense inhibitors are commercially available. Specific siRNAs thatare suitable for reducing or inhibiting the expression and thus thefunction of Cbl-b have been disclosed, for example, in document US2007/0054355 in the form of mixed RNA/DNA nucleotides and having alength of about 20 bases.

Cbl-b inhibitors are well known in the prior art. According to thepresent invention, any Cbl-b inhibitor may be used. Preferably, theCbl-b inhibitor is selected from inhibitory nucleic acids, in particularantisense oligonucleotides, in particular antisense RNA, siRNA (smallinterfering RNA) or shRNA (short hairpin RNA). Nucleic acid inhibitorscan either be used as such or in the form of vectors which encode andexpress the inhibition. Suitable Cbl-b inhibitors are, for example,antagonists, aptamers or intramers, wherein the use of Cbl-b siRNA ispreferred. siRNA technology for the attenuation of the specific geneexpression has already been described for Cbl-b. Cbl-b inhibitors inaccordance with the present invention are substances that reduce orinhibit the expression and/or function of Cbl-b and may either beidentified as is known in the prior art (Loeser et al. (JEM (2007)doi:10.1084/iem.20061699; Chiang et al. (Journal of ClinicalInvestigation 117 (4) (2007): 1033-1034); Lametschwandtner et al.(Journal of Immunotherapy 31 (9) (2008): 943); Paolini et al. (J.Immunol. 2011 Feb. 15; 186 (4): 2138-47) or as described in the Examplesof the present application.

US 2007/0087988 relates to a method for regulating HPK1, whoseexpression may be enhanced by increasing the expression of Cbl-b, andvice versa (e.g. by Cbl-b siRNA inhibition).

Preferably, the function of Cbl-b is reduced or inhibited by reducing orinhibiting the expression of Cbl-b. The terms “reduce/reduction” or“inhibit/inhibition” relate to a reduction or inhibition of the function(or expression) of Cbl-b as compared to the unmodified natural function,optionally including the complete inhibition of said function.Preferably, the function (or expression) is reduced by at least 30%,40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% or 95%.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the reduction orinhibition of the function of Cbl-b is transient, i.e. the function isonly temporarily reduced as described in the above and can thereforerecover again, e. g. by consumption or degradation of inhibitors, suchas Cbl-b siRNA, or by restructuring or non-Cbl-b-impaired cells in vivo.The transient reduction of Cbl-b in immune cells can also be performedin a repetitive manner, e.g. until a therapeutic success has beenachieved.

Preferably, the expression of Cbl-b is reduced or inhibited by the useof Cbl-b antisense RNA or siRNA. For this purpose, short DNA and/or RNAsequences that are complementary to one of the regions of the target(Cbl-b) mRNA sequence are employed, so that hybridization andinactivation of the corresponding sequences will occur. These sequencespreferably have a length of at least 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 28, 30, 35, 40,50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180 or up to 200 bases until thelength of the complete target sequence is reached, preferably up to2500, 2000, 1500, 1000, 500 or 300 bases. Preferably, the sequences ofSEQ ID Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and/or 8 are used.

The function of Cbl-b can also be reduced or inhibited by a plurality ofother known components, e.g. by the use of Cbl-b antagonists,inhibitors, in particular aptamers or intramers. According to thepresent invention, any antagonists or inhibitors that are capable ofsuppressing the effect or function of Cbl-b can be used to enhance theimmunoreactivity of NK cells. For the inhibition of Cbl-b, substancesmay be used that either specifically inhibit the enzymatic E3 ligaseactivity or inhibit the intracellular association of Cbl-b with itsinteraction partners or inhibit the expression of Cbl-b. Preferably,antagonists or inhibitors can be used for the preparation of apharmaceutical agent for increasing the immunoreactivity of the NK cellsaccording to the present invention. Treatments of diseases with asuppressed or inefficient immune system, in particular cancer or chronicinfections, are facilitated.

According to the present invention it was found that the inhibition ofCbl-b together with further NK cell-stimulatory substances (NK cellactivators) induces a synergistic effect that exceeds the effect that isto be expected based on the additive effects of the inhibition of Cbl-band the activation of NK cells. Therefore, the administration of theCbl-b inhibitor or the inhibition of Cbl-b is preferably carried outtogether with a further NK cell-stimulatory substance (NK cellactivator). In the following, the terms “NK cell-stimulatory substance”,“NK cell-activating substance” and “NK cell activator” are usedinterchangeably. Such an NK cell-stimulatory substance is a substancethat differs from the Cbl-b inhibitor according to the presentinvention. An NK cell-stimulatory substance according to the presentinvention is a substance which induces the activation or stimulation ofNK cells in one or more suitable in vitro assays. Preferably, the NKcell-stimulatory substance induces the production of IFN-gamma and/orTNF-alpha and/or the surface expression of CD107a by the NK cells in amanner independent of the inhibition of Cbl-b. Such production ofIFN-gamma and/or TNF-alpha and/or surface expression of CD107a can bemeasured using methods known in the art (Fauriat Blood. 2010 Mar. 18;115 (11): 2167-76; Dons'koi et al., J. Immunol. Methods 2011 Sep. 30;372 (1-2): 187-95) or as is described in the Examples of the presentapplication. Likewise, the effect of the NK cell-stimulatory agents maybe tested by directly determining the cytotoxicity or “killing activity”of the NK cells (as described in Example 4; other suitable methods arewell known in the art (Beano et al., J. Transl. Med. 2008 May 16; 6: 25;Claus et al., J. Immunol. Methods 2009 February 28, 341 (1-2): 154-64;Fujisaki et al., Cancer Res. 2009 May 1, 69 (9): 4010-7; Cho et al.,Clin. Cancer Res. 2010 Aug. 1, 16 (15): 3901-9), i.e. the cytotoxicityof NK cells and PBMCs, respectively, against specific target cells(SKBR3 tumor cells in Example 4) is determined, e.g. by measuring therelease of the enzyme LDH from the tumor cell cytosol as a measure forthe degree of cell lysis. In a corresponding in vitro measurement, theNK cells are preferably activated or stimulated in order to be able tomeasure the effect of the inhibition of Cbl-b, e.g. by contacting withtumor cells (e. g. K562) and/or by using a NK cell-stimulatory substance(e.g. one or more cytokines, such as IL-2 and/or IL-12) and/or anantibody (e.g. trastuzumab (Herceptin®)).

In a specific embodiment, the present invention relates to theco-administration of the Cbl-b inhibitor and an NK cell activator, inparticular selected from an immune cell-stimulatory cytokine, e. g. acytokine selected from the common gamma-chain cytokines, in particularIL-2, IL-15 and IL-21; cytokines that stimulate both the cells of theadaptive and of the innate immune system, in particular IL-12, IL-23 andIL-27; effector cell cytokines, such as IL-1, IL-17 and IL-18; aninterferon, in particular interferon-alpha; or an interferon stimulator;an antibody, in particular an antibody which recognizes tumor cellsurface molecules and/or an antibody whose constant region is capable ofbinding to the corresponding Fc receptor on NK cells; or a TLR or PAMPreceptor ligand, in particular agonists, preferably of TLR-1, TLR-2,TLR-3, TLR-7, TLR-8 and TLR-9, as well as combinations of theabove-mentioned NK cell activators. The terms “simultaneous” or“together with” or “in combination with” or “combined with” as used inthe context of the administration of the substances according to thepresent invention refer to the administration of at least one Cbl-binhibitor and at least one NK cell activator in a patient, which may beconducted in the form of one (containing at least one Cbl-b inhibitorand at least one NK cell activator) or more different pharmaceuticalcompositions (one of which contains at least one Cbl-b inhibitor and theother at least one NK cell activator and optionally other pharmaceuticalcompositions). If the administration is carried out using a plurality ofdifferent pharmaceutical compositions, the co-administration may beconducted simultaneously or sequentially. Particularly preferably, theadministration of the Cbl-b inhibitor is carried out in combination withat least one NK cell activator, in particular IL-2, IL-15, IL-12, IL-23,interferon, an interferon stimulator, imiquimod and other TLR7/8agonists, e. g. resiquimod, ssPolyU nucleotides, loxoribine,gardiquimod, CL075, CL097, CL264, 3M002, poly (I:C) oligonucleotides,CpG oligonucleotides, CD205 ligands or CD206 ligands, as well ascombinations thereof. Preferred combinations of NK cell activators thatmay be combined with the administration of the Cbl-b inhibitor comprise,e.g., a cytokine of the common gamma-chain cytokines in combination withanother of the above-mentioned NK cell activators; or a cytokine of theboth the adaptive and the innate immune system in combination withanother of the above-mentioned NK cell activators. Particularlypreferred combinations are those involving a cytokine of the commongamma-chain cytokines and a cytokine of both the adaptive and the innateimmune system, in particular IL-2 and IL-12.

According to the present invention, a cytokine of the common gamma-chaincytokines is selected from the family of cytokines that share theso-called common cytokine receptor gamma-chain (γ_(c) or CD132) in theirreceptor complexes and consists of different members having a similarstructure with four alpha-helical bundles. This family includes, e. g.,interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15, IL-21 and thymic stromallymphopoietin (TSLP). An immune cell-stimulatory cytokine, a cytokine ofboth the adaptive and the innate immune system, an effector cellcytokine or an interferon stimulator according to the present inventionare preferably selected from the group comprising IL-1, IL-2, IL-3,IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-11, IL-12, IL-13, IL-14, IL-15,IL-16, IL- 17a, IL-17f, IL-18, IL-19, IL-20, IL-21, IL-22, IL-23, IL-24,IL-25, IL-26, IL-27, IL-28, IL-29, IL-30, IL-31, IL-32, IL-33, IL-34,IL-35, IFN-alpha, IFN-beta, IFN-gamma, IFN-lambda, TNF-alpha andTNF-beta.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the present invention relates tothe administration of a Cbl-b inhibitor in combination with IL-2,optionally with one or more further NK cell activators, in particularIL-12, IL-23, IFN-alpha and/or IFN-beta. In a further particularlypreferred embodiment, the present invention relates to theadministration of a Cbl-b inhibitor in combination with IFN-alpha,optionally with one or more further NK cell activators, in particularIL-15 and/or IL-21. In a further particularly preferred embodiment, thepresent invention relates to the administration of a Cbl-b inhibitor incombination with IL-12, optionally with one or more further NK cellactivators, in particular IL-15 and/or IL-7.

Preferably, the NK cell-stimulatory substances used induce in NK cellsthe production of IFN-gamma and/or TNF-alpha and/or an increased surfaceexpression of CD107a and/or an increased cytotoxicity against the targetcells. IFN-alpha, IL-12 or IL-23, for instance, induce particularlystrong IFN-gamma responses in NK cells. Surprisingly, it was now foundthat the activation of NK cells by the inhibition of Cbl-b with NKcell-stimulatory substances that induce the production of IFN-gammaevoke particularly strong synergistic effects that go far beyond theexpected effect of the individual substances.

Likewise, the Cbl-b inhibitor may be administered in combination with anantibody, for example an antibody against tumor cell determinants,optionally combined with one or more of the above-mentioned immuneactivators or one or more of the above-mentioned NK cell-stimulatorysubstances. The inhibition of Cbl-b in NK cells as well as theadministration of the additional NK cell activator or the antibodydirected against tumor cells may be conducted in vivo, for example bydirect administration to the patient.

Preferably, the Cbl-b inhibitor is coupled to a ligand of an NK cellrecognition molecule, e.g. an NK cell surface molecule. Such a ligandcan, for example, be a naturally occurring protein, a furtherbiomolecule or a functional derivative thereof which is capable ofbinding to NK cells. In particular, such a ligand may be an antibodydirected against an NK cell recognition molecule. According to thepresent invention, the NK cells are preferably specifically activated bythe inhibition of Cbl-b in vivo, e. g. by coupling to a ligand of suchan NK cell recognition molecule. The “specific” NK cell activation is tobe understood as an effect on NK cells that is enhanced as compared tothe non-specific, e. g. non-controlled or non-coupled, administration ofa Cbl-b inhibitor, which may also have an effect in other cells. Inparticular, the “specific” NK cell activation is defined as an effectthat is particularly directed to NK cells, as compared to theadministration of a Cbl-b inhibitor alone (without the co-administrationof an NK cell activator) or as compared to the administration of a Cbl-binhibitor which is not coupled to a ligand of an NK cell recognitionmolecule. A nonspecific administration is carried out, e.g., by simpleadministration of the inhibitor without an additional administration ofNK cell stimulators or NK cell-specific modifications of the inhibitorachieved by coupling to an NK cell recognition molecule. By means of thespecific NK cell activation it is possible to control the NKcell-mediated immune response according to the present invention (innateimmune system) with less undesired side effects which may, e. g., becaused by the adaptive immune system.

The term “antibody” relates to all naturally occurring antibodies, suchas IgG, IgD, IgA, IgE and IgM antibodies as well as functionalderivatives thereof which comprise, e.g., Fab, Fab′, F(ab)₂, F(ab′)₂fragments, single-chain antibodies (scAb or scFv) or a fragment of anantibody variable domain, and which specifically bind to or are directedagainst an antigen, herein in particular an NK cell recognitionmolecule, or the corresponding Fc receptor on NK cells. Antibodiesaccording to the present invention preferably have a constant region, inparticular an Fc domain, which is capable of binding to thecorresponding Fc receptor on NK cells. The antibody can be monoclonal orpolyclonal. Antibodies which are to be administered within a therapy incombination with the Cbl-b inhibitor of the present invention, asdescribed in the above, are directed against an epitope of a pathogen ora tumor and preferably have an Fc domain.

Among the preferred NK cell recognition molecules are, in particular,those which either specifically occur only on NK cells or which areparticularly frequently expressed on NK cells and optionally on furtheradditional immune cells whose activity can be enhanced as desired byCbl-b inhibition, for example, CD2, CD8a, CD16, CD25, CD27, CD56, CD71,CD158, CD159, CD160, CD161, CD205, CD206, CD205, CD314, CD335, CD336 andCD337. Thus, the Cbl-b inhibitor can be contacted specifically with NKcells or with NK cells and further relevant subtypes of immune cells ina patient and can be taken up by the cells. Consequently, the Cbl-binhibitor will exert its therapeutic effect only in the desired targetcells in a specific manner.

In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a pharmaceuticalcomposition comprising a Cbl-b inhibitor and an additional NK cellactivator, as described above, in particular an immune cell-stimulatorycytokine, an interferon or an interferon stimulator, an antibody or aTLR or PAMP receptor ligand. Such a composition can be used for theabove-mentioned purpose of inhibiting Cbl-b, either alone or incombination with further NK cell activators.

Preferably, the composition comprises a pharmaceutically acceptablecarrier that is preferably suitable for the intracellular administrationin a patient. In particular, the composition comprises vehicles such asliposomal or microsomal formulations which are particularly preferredfor the administration of nucleic acids. Pharmaceutical compositions maycomprise pharmaceutically suitable salts as well as additional buffers,tonicity components or pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. Inparticular, inhibitory nucleic acids, such as antisense nucleic acids,siRNA and shRNA, may be provided in suitable therapeutic vector systems.Pharmaceutical carrier substances are provided to improve thetolerability of the composition and to improve the solubility andbioavailability of the active ingredients. Examples include emulsifyingagents, thickening agents, redox components, starch, alcohol solutions,polyethylene glycol or lipids. The selection of a suitablepharmaceutical carrier strongly depends on the mode of administration.For oral administration, liquid or solid carriers can be used, whereasfinal compositions in liquid form are advantageous for injections.

Preferably, the pharmaceutical composition to be used according to thepresent invention comprises buffer substances or tonic substances. Byusing a buffer, it is possible to adjust the pH value of thepharmaceutical composition to physiological conditions and to attenuateor buffer pH variations. An example for such a substance is a phosphatebuffer. Tonicity agents are used to adjust the osmolarity and maycomprise ionic substances, such as inorganic salts, e. g. NaCl, ornon-ionic substances, e. g. glycerol, or carbohydrates.

Preferably, the composition to be used according to the presentinvention is provided to be suitable for a systemic, topical, oral orintranasal administration. These routes of administration of thepharmaceutical composition according to the present invention allow fora quick and easy intake. In case of an oral administration, it is, e.g., possible to ingest solid or liquid pharmaceutical compositions,either directly or in a diluted form.

The pharmaceutical composition to be used according to the presentinvention is preferably provided to be suitable for intravenous,intraarterial, intramuscular, intravascular, intraperitoneal orsubcutaneous administration. For instance, injection or transfusions aresuitable for this purpose. Administering the pharmaceutical compositiondirectly into the bloodstream will have the advantage that the activeingredients of the pharmaceutical composition are distributed throughoutthe body and are thus capable of reaching their target tissues quickly.In addition, topical applications are provided. The administrationeither directly to or in the vicinity of a site at which an immuneresponse is to be induced or enhanced, e. g. the site of an infection ora tumor, has the particular advantage that the NK cell activation willmainly occur at the target site.

In addition to the in vivo administration, an ex vivo treatment of NKcells is also possible. To this end, NK cells are isolated from apatient, treated ex vivo according to the present invention,subsequently activated and then returned to the patient. Such an ex vivomethod for the treatment of cells of the immune system is, for example,described in WO 2009/073905 (incorporated herein by reference) and canbe adapted to NK cells and used according to the present invention.Preferably, the ex vivo embodiment of the method according to thepresent invention is carried out in combination with the above-mentionedadditional NK cell activators, such as immune cell-stimulatorycytokines, in particular IL-2 and/or IL-12, an interferon or interferonstimulator, an antibody or a TLR or PAMP receptor ligand, preferably ofTLR-2, TLR-7 and TLR-8, as well as combinations thereof. It is possiblethat either the Cbl-b inhibitors or the additional NK cell activatorsare administered ex vivo to the NK cells and the further activation iscarried out in vivo, e.g. ex vivo inhibition of Cbl-b and in vivoadministration of the additional NK cell activator, or vice versa.Preferably, both steps, i.e. the inhibition of Cbl-b and the additionalactivation of NK cells, can be performed ex vivo. Isolated and activatedNK cells can be administered to the target site in a directed manner.The NK cells can be isolated ex vivo. For a specific activation of NKcells, the NK cells may be enriched in a cell isolate, e.g. PBMCs, or beisolated therefrom ex vivo.

The ex vivo treatment of the NK cells may also include an expandingstep, preferably as described in documents U.S. Pat. No. 7,435,596 B2 orWO 2006/52534 A2 (both incorporated herein by reference). In thiscontext, for instance, NK cells can be contacted with NK cell-activatingcells which express the MHC I complex only in a reduced manner andexpress membrane-bound IL-15. Alternatively or additionally, the NKcells can be contacted with IL-15 or an IL-15 receptor antibody and aCD137 ligand or a CD137 antibody. This expansion is optionally carriedout in combination with said additional NK cell activators, such asimmune cell-stimulatory cytokines

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is further illustrated by the following Figuresand Examples, without being limited thereto.

FIG. 1: PBMCs or cell fractions isolated therefrom were inhibited byCbl-b siRNA and subsequently stimulated with IL-2 and IL-12, and theproduction of IFN-gamma was measured after 24 hours.

FIG. 2: PBMCs or cell fractions isolated therefrom were inhibited byCbl-b siRNA, stimulated by co-incubation with the tumor cell line K562,and the production of IFN-gamma was measured after 24 hours.

FIG. 3: Isolated NK cells were inhibited by Cbl-b siRNA, stimulated byK562 or IL-2 and IL-12, and the production of TNF-alpha was measuredafter 24 hours.

FIG. 4: PBMCs were inhibited with Cbl-b siRNA and incubated for 4 hourswith the tumor cell line SKBR3, as indicated, with the addition ofHerceptin or cytokine The cytotoxicity was then determined based on therelease of the cellular enzyme LDH which was measured in an enzymaticassay.

FIG. 5: Cbl-b silencing in NK cells increases the reactivity as comparedto IFN-alpha stimulation: NK cells were inhibited by Cbl-b siRNA andstimulated with IFN-alpha and the production of IFN-gamma was measuredafter 24 h.

FIG. 6: Cbl-b silencing in NK cells increases the reactivity as comparedto combinations of interleukins and IFN-alpha: NK cells were inhibitedby Cbl-b siRNA and stimulated with IL-2, IL-7, IL-15 and IL-21, eitheralone or in combination with IL-12, IL-23 or IFN-alpha, and theproduction of TNF-alpha was measured after 24 h.

FIG. 7: Cbl-b silencing in NK cells increases the reactivity as comparedto combinations of IL-12 with various cytokines of the common cytokinereceptor gamma-chain cytokines: NK cells were inhibited by Cbl-b siRNAand stimulated with IL- 2, IL-7 and IL-15, either alone or incombination with IL-12, and the production of IFN-gamma was measuredafter 24 h.

FIG. 8: Cbl-b silencing in NK cells increases the reactivity not only ascompared to combinations of IL-2 with IL-12, IL-23 and IFN-alpha orIFN-beta: NK cells were inhibited by Cbl-b siRNA and stimulated withIL-23, IFN-alpha or IFN-beta, either alone or in the presence of IL-2,and the production of IFN-gamma was measured after 24 hours.

FIG. 9: The increased reactivity of NK cells subsequently to Cbl-bsilencing as compared to cytokine stimulation leads to an increase ofthe activation marker CD69 on the cell surface: NK cells were inhibitedby Cbl-b siRNA and stimulated with IL-2 and either IFN-alpha or IL-12,and the expression of CD69 was determined after 48 h.

EXAMPLE 1 Sequences

The following siRNA sequences were used for the inhibition of Cbl-b:

A. Sense sequence: GUACUGGUCCGUUAGCAAAUU (SEQ ID NO: 1)Antisense sequence: 5′PUUUGCUAACGGACCAGUACUU (SEQ ID NO: 2)B. Sense sequence: GGUCGAAUUUUGGGUAUUAUU (SEQ ID NO: 3)Antisense sequence: 5′PUAAUACCCAAAAUUCGACCUU (SEQ ID NO: 4)

EXAMPLE 2 CBL-B Inhibition in Nk Cells

Using CPT reaction tubes (Vacutainer) whole blood was obtained from adonor and the PBMCs were separated therefrom by centrifugation. NK cellswere isolated from PBMCs (including the CD8⁺CD3⁻ fraction) andsubsequently CD8 and CD4 T cells were isolated by means of magneticselection. FACS was used to verify that the purity of the correspondingcell populations was at least 90%. Both the PBMCs and the resultingisolated cell fractions were transfected with siRNA Cbl-b using an Amaxatransfection device and stimulated overnight with recombinant human IL-2(50 ng/ml) and IL-12 (10 ng/ml) in Xvivol5 medium (FIG. 1). TheIFN-gamma secretion in the cells treated in this manner was thenmeasured in an ELISA. The result clearly indicates that the greatlyenhanced IFN-gamma production of Cbl-b-inhibited PBMCs after thestimulation with IL-2 and IL-12 can be unambiguously assigned to thereaction of the NK cells.

EXAMPLE 3 CBL-B Inhibition in Nk Cells and Co-Stimulation

One possibility of co-stimulating NK cells is via tumor cell lines whoseaberrant surface marker expression is no longer able to maintain theappropriate balance of inhibiting and activating NK receptors, thusleading to the activation of NK cells, for example the tumor cell lineK562. PBMCs as well as CD8 and NK cells were isolated as described aboveand transfected with Cbl-b siRNA. 1×10̂5 of these transfected cells werethen incubated in Xvivo medium overnight, either alone (unstim) or with6×10̂4 of K562 tumor cells, and the secretion of IFN-gamma was determinedas described above. The incubation of Cbl-b-inhibited PBMCs with thistumor cell line again resulted in a strong IFN-gamma production, whichin turn could clearly be attributed to the contribution of the NK cells(FIG. 2). Furthermore, both stimulation methods resulted in an increasein the TNF-alpha production in NK cells upon inhibition by Cbl-b (FIG.3).

EXAMPLE 4 Tumor Cytotoxicity by Cbl-B Inhibition in Nk Cells

One of the main functions of NK cells in the context of tumordevelopment is the direct destruction of tumor cells. It was thereforetested whether Cbl-b-inhibited PBMCs are better suitable for thedestruction of tumor cells. The Her2-positive breast carcinoma lineSKBR3 was used as a target cell line since in this context it is alsopossible to test the antibody directed against Her2 (trastuzumab orHerceptin) which is employed in tumor therapy. PBMCs were again isolatedas described above, transfected with Cbl-b siRNA and incubated for 4hours either alone or with 4 x 10̂4 SKBR3 cells in Xvivo medium. Inaddition, 10 μg/ml of Herceptin antibody were added under the conditionsindicated as Herceptin and in the conditions indicated as IL-2 IL-12 thestimulation was carried out as described above. The cytotoxicity of thePBMCs against the SKBR3 tumor cells was then determined by colorimetricmeasurement of the release of the enzyme LDH from the tumor cellcytosol. In accordance with the instructions given by the manufacturerof the colorimetric measurement kit (Biovision), the spontaneous releaseof this enzyme from the PBMCs or tumor cells was determined from thecorresponding individual control conditions and was subtracted. It wasfound that the cell lysis induced by Cbl-b-inhibited immune cells wasbasically stronger than that obtained with the cells that had beentreated with control siRNA, wherein, in particular, the simultaneousstimulation with IL-2 and IL-12 resulted in a significant increase intumor cell lysis (FIG. 4).

These in vitro results therefore show that the simultaneous inhibitionof Cbl-b in cells of the adaptive and the innate immune system ex vivoin unseparated human PBMCs is possible and further lead to theconclusion that the Cbl-b inhibition in NK cells forms a rational basisfor combining Cbl-b inhibition with tumor therapies, such as theadministration of recombinant IL-2 or therapeutic antibodies directedagainst tumor antigens.

EXAMPLE 5 CBL-B Silencing in Nk Cells Increases the Reactivity asCompared to Ifn-Alpha Stimulation

NK cells contained in PBMC were isolated as described in Example 2 andwere silenced using siRNA. The following siRNA sequences directedagainst Cbl-b were used:

Cbl-b siRNA 1: 5′-CUCUAUUUGCGGAAUUA-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 5)3′-AAUUCCGCAAAAUAGAGC-5′ (SEQ ID NO. 6) Cbl-b siRNA 2:5′-GUGAGAAUGAGUACUUUAAA-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 7) 3′-ACACUCUUACUCAUAAGAUU-5′(SEQ ID NO: 8)

The cells were then stimulated overnight either without cytokine or withIFN-alpha (5 or 50 ng/ml, as indicated in FIG. 5) and the IFN-gammasecretion of the cells thus treated was then measured in an ELISA. Theresult clearly shows that the inhibition of Cbl-b in NK cells results ina strong increase in IFN-gamma production (FIG. 5). The IFN-gammaproduction of T and NK cells in the liver has been defined as one of thecausal factors of the effectiveness of IFN-alpha therapy in thetreatment of chronic hepatitis infections. This represents a basis for arationale for a combination therapy with Cbl-b silencing and systemicIFN-alpha therapy, in particular in cases where the standard therapywith IFN-alpha alone is not sufficient to provide complete healing.

In principle, the liver is an ideal target organ for siRNA therapies asthe gene expression in the liver can easily be modified by a systemicadministration of siRNA. In the present case, both the Cbl-b inhibitionin NK cells by direct systemic administration of Cbl-b siRNA and a celltherapy by transfer of NK cells that have been silenced ex vivo are thuspossible since it is to be assumed that those cells migrate to theregion of the affected liver in a sufficient amount after intravenousrefunding.

EXAMPLE 6 CBL-B Silencing in Nk Cells Increases the Reactivity asCompared to Combinations of Il-2 and Ifn-Alpha or IL-1211L-23.

As it could be shown in Examples 2 and 5 that the inhibition of Cbl-bresulted in an increased stimulatability of NK cells by IFN-alpha andIL-2 and IL-12, respectively, a more systematic analysis of thestimulatability of Cbl-b-silenced NK cells was carried out. IL-2 is amember of the so-called common cytokine receptor gamma-chain family.Other members of this family include, i. a., IL-7, IL-15 and IL-21.IL-23 in turn is similar to IL-12 in various structural and functionalaspects, just as IFN-alpha and IL-12, and is produced by activateddendritic cells, which thus also play an essential role in theactivation of NK cells. Therefore, the NK cells in this experiment werestimulated with the common cytokine receptor gamma-chain cytokines IL-2,IL-7, IL-15 and IL-21, either alone or in combination with IL-12, IL-23or IFN-alpha. For comparison, the DC cytokines IL--12, IL-23 andIFN-alpha were also added without common cytokine receptor gamma-chaincytokines In this procedure, the NK cells contained in PBMCs wereisolated as described in Example 5 and were silenced using siRNA (Cbl-bsiRNA 2) and the control-treated and Cbl-b-silenced NK cells weredirectly compared. As indicated, the NK cells were stimulated with thecytokines overnight (all common cytokine receptor gamma-chain cytokines50 ng/ml; DC cytokines IL-12, IL-23 and IFN-alpha 10 ng/ml). TNF-alphawas selected as a readout (determined by ELISA) as TNF-alpha is a keycytokine in immune reactions and its production is not as dependent onIL-12 as that of IFN-gamma. The results in FIG. 6 show that the Cbl-binhibition of NK cells leads to a significantly stronger activation andthus an increased production of TNF-alpha. The TNF-alpha production wasparticularly strong when the Cbl-b-silenced NK cells were costimulatedwith combinations of IL-2 and a DC cytokine, such as IL-12, IL-23 andIFN-alpha. However, it was shown that other common cytokine receptorgamma-chain cytokines, in particular IL-15 in the presence of IFN-alpha,resulted in a much stronger reaction of Cbl-b-silenced NK cells. Sincethe production of DC cytokines, such as IL-12, IL-23 and IFN-alpha, invivo is mainly stimulated by components of pathogens acting as TLRligands, a therapeutic rationale is therefore given to use the Cbl-binhibition of NK cells either in case of chronic infections or in thetherapy of tumor diseases with artificial TLR ligands (e. g. TLR7/8ligands such as imiquimod or TLR9 ligands such as CpG). The additionalstimulus provided by the common cytokine receptor gamma-chain cytokinesIL-2 and IL-15 in vivo may be mediated, for example, by immunizationwith anti-tumor vaccines which lead to a production of IL-2 and IL-15 byactivated antigen-specific T cells or by a direct therapeuticadministration to the patient.

EXAMPLE 7 CBL-B Silencing in Nk Cells Increases the Reactivity asCompared to Combinations of Il-12 with Various Common Cytokine ReceptorGamma-Chain Cytokines.

As it could be shown in Example 6 that the inhibition of Cbl-b mayresult in an increased stimulatability of NK cells by various commoncytokine receptor gamma-chain cytokines, in particular when used incombination with cytokines that are usually produced by DCs, it wastested whether, besides IL-2, IL-7 or IL-15 together with IL-12, the keyfactor for the induction of IFN-gamma, can also lead to an increasedproduction of this cytokine To this end, the NK cells contained in PBMCswere isolated as described in Example 5 and 6, silenced and stimulatedovernight with the cytokines IL-2 (50 ng/ml), IL-7 and IL-15 (20 ng/mleach), either alone or in the presence of IL-12 (10 ng/ml), asindicated. The IFN-gamma production was measured in an ELISA. Theresults in FIG. 7 show that the Cbl-b-silenced NK cells are capable of amuch stronger reaction in the form of IFN-gamma production in responseto all three tested common cytokine receptor gamma-chain cytokines inthe presence of IL-12. Likewise, it was found that only theCbl-b-silenced NK cells were capable of a measurable production ofIFN-gamma, solely based on the stimulation with IL-2. IL-2 has beenapproved for the treatment of certain malignant tumor diseases, butexerts a sufficient effect only a small subset of patients. Theinhibition of Cbl-b in NK cells is thus in a potential strategy forimproving the efficacy of IL-2 in tumor therapy. Furthermore,Cbl-b-silenced NK cells are capable of a substantially stronger responseto the simultaneous presence of IL-12 and IL-7 or IL-15.

EXAMPLE 8 CBL-B Silencing in Nk Cells Increases the Reactivity not Onlyas Compared to Combinations of IL-2 with IL-12, IL-23 and Ifn-Alpha, butAlso to Ifn-Beta.

As it was shown in Example 6 that the inhibition of Cbl-b in NK cellsresults in an increased stimulatability by IL-2 and IFN-alpha, it wasalso tested whether IFN-beta was capable of inducing an equivalenteffect. To this end, the NK cells contained in PBMCs were isolated asdescribed in Example 6, silenced and stimulated overnight with thecytokines IL-23, IFN-alpha or IFN-beta, either alone or in the presenceof IL-2 (50 ng/ml) as indicated. The IFN-gamma production was measuredin an ELISA. The results in FIG. 8 show that the Cbl-b-silenced NK cellsare capable of a much stronger response in the form of IFN-gammaproduction to all three cytokines tested in the presence of IL-2.

EXAMPLE 9 The Increased Reactivity of Nk Cells Upon Cbl-B Silencing asCompared to Cytokine Stimulation Leads to an Increase of the ActivationMarker Cd69 on the Cell Surface.

As it was shown in the previous examples that Cbl-b-silenced NK cellsrespond by increased cytokine production, the expression of theactivation marker CD69 on the cell surface was examined as a furtherparameter using FACS. To this end, the NK cells contained in PBMCs wereisolated as described in Example 6, silenced and stimulated with thecytokines IL-2 and IFN-alpha or IL-12. After 2 days, the cells wereharvested and assayed for surface expression of CD69 by a FACS analysisconducted on an FC500 cytometer. For establishing the specificity of thestaining, the cells were counter-stained using CD56-PE-Cy5 and CD3-FITCand stained with CD69-PE or a corresponding isotype control (theantibodies were routinely employed according to the recommendedprocedure given by the manufacturer Beckman-Coulter). As an example,FIG. 9A shows the increased expression of CD69 in Cbl-b-silenced NKcells as compared to control-treated NK cells, both of which weretreated with IFN-alpha and IL-2, in the overlay-histogram. FIG. 9Bsummarizes the quantitative analysis of the CD69 expression for thestimulation with IL-2 and either IFN-alpha or IL-12. In accordance withthe data obtained in the previous examples, it is shown thatCbl-b-silenced NK cells are hyper-reactive to a stimulation with thesecytokines and that this increased reactivity directly manifests itselfin the increased up-regulation of the activation marker CD69 on thecellular level.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of treating cancer in a patientcomprising administering at least one Cbl-b inhibitory nucleic acidfurther defined as an antisense oligonucleotide, siRNA, or shRNA, incombination with at least one NK cell-stimulatory substance furtherdefined as IL-2, IFN-alpha, IL-12 and IL-7, or IL-12 and IL-15 to atleast one NK cell of the patient in vivo and/or ex vivo, thereby immuneactivating the at least one NK cell.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinwhen the Cbl-b inhibitor is administered in combination with IL-2, oneor more of IL-12, IL-23, IFN-alpha, or IFN-beta, or any combinationthereof is also administered.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein when theCbl-b inhibitor is administered in combination with IFN-alpha, one orboth of IL-15 or IL-21 is also administered.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein when the Cbl-b inhibitor is administered in combination withIL-12, one or both of IL-15 or IL-7 is also administered.
 5. The methodof claim 1, wherein the Cbl-b inhibitor and at least one further NKcell-stimulatory substance is administered in combination with at leastone of an immune cell-stimulatory cytokine, an interferon or interferonstimulator, an antibody having an Fc domain, or a TLR or PAMP receptorligand.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the Cbl-b inhibitor and atleast one further NK cell-stimulatory substance is administered incombination with at least one of a cytokine of the common gamma-chaincytokine, a cytokine of both the adaptive and the innate immune system,an effector cell cytokine, a TLR receptor agonist, or a PAMP receptoragonist.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one Cbl-binhibitor and the at least one further NK cell-stimulatory substance arecomprised in one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 8. Themethod of claim 7, wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier issuitable for intracellular administration in a patient.
 9. The method ofclaim 8, wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is a liposomalor microsomal formulation.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein thepatient is a mammal.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the patient isa human.